Lifestyles Report…In my Travels Summer 2013

In my travels I’ve seen a few things that I think will be of interest to you. Raise your hands if you like the home section of T.J. Maxx and Marshalls. Just what I thought, for all of you home decorating fashionistas there is going to be a Home Goods store opening in the old Border’s Book Store in Monroeville. The signs are up, coming soon Home Goods. No longer will you have to travel through the tunnel to get to the one lonely Home Goods store in Robinson. I so dislike vacant stores and I am always happy to see a new store move in where one once was.

Last week I went to the flea market in North Versailles. On my way there I passed by Drew’s restaurant. It has been years since I was there and I tend to forget about it. A friend reminded me that their meals are still good and very much like home cooking. I checked out their menu on the Internet and it is huge also a lot of good reviews. There were a lot of other quaint stores on Ardmore Boulevard as well.

When I arrived at the flea market behind the Walmart the parking lot was packed. This was the first time in a long time that I had to park where the shoppers park, normally I am parked in back selling my wares.

If you have not been to the Rossi Flea Market it is a former movie theater—think AMC Loews. When it opened years ago as a theater another big screen theater opened about a mile away and the one that is now a flea market did not survive. This time when I walked into the former movie house it felt so surreal almost like I was in a bad movie.

Down the aisles that once led to the hottest current film was now packed with made in Japan goods, jewelry handbags, shoes and sporting goods. You name it and it was there somewhere. I walked into one “store” and I could see where the theater seats used to be. The stores inside the theater are what you would call permanent and the ones on the outside are for the vendors that sell from time to time, their stores do not have names and this is the person who likes to sell at the flea market vs. the yard sale.

My last “in my travels” feature actually features traveling. I was on my way to a venue that I had no idea how to get to. I had misplaced my GPS and did not print directions from MapQuest. A friend told me you don’t need that GPS just use your map app on your phone. Every day I discover something new about the iPhone that I really like. She was right. I punched in my location and destination and my phone took me right to the front door. I guess I don’t need that GPS after all.